Apparatus for hanging boots

ABSTRACT

A hanger for holding a pair of boots in an inverted position. A pair of separately formed wire elements are included, each of the elements having its ends formed in a different U-shape. The Ushapes are positioned in common planes respectively, with the open ends of the U-shapes in juxtaposed position, one to the other.

J United States Patent 1191 Y Shackel 1451 Apr. 9, 1974 [54] APPARATUS FOR HANGING BOOTS 2,969,151 1/1961 Krstulovich 211 34 2,889,936 6 1959 K' 211 119 x 1 lnvemofi Joseph Shack, 14636 Brmgard, 3,391,891 7/1968 03:12: 1. 211/181 x Detroit, Mich! 43215 2,412,847 12/1946 Van Tilburg 211 35 [22] Filed: June 27, 1972 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 2 App] 2 ,539 117,738 2/1926 Germany 211/35 736,932 12/1932 France 211 31 945,502 11/1948 France 211/34 521 u.s.c1 ..2ll/38,211/1l8,21l/178,

211/181,248/302 1511 1111.01. A47f7/08 -[58] Field ofSearch ..211/34, 35, 36, 37, 3

[56] References Cited 9 UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,787,379 4/1957 Fritz et a1. 211/38 3,589,522 6/1971 Chiodo 3,595,403 7/1971 Lane 2,703,651 3/1955 Brocklehurst 21 1/34 2,267,634 12/1941 Arenz 211/34 Canedy .f. 211/34 X Primary E.ram1' rterRoy D.- Frazier 'Dur'nont [5 7 ABSTRACT A hanger for holding a'pair of boots in an inverted position. A pair of separately formed wire elements are 4 included, each of the elements having its ends formed in a different U-shape. The U-shapes are positioned in common planes respectively, with the open ends of the U-shapes in juxtaposed position, one to the other.

9 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures 1 APPARATUS FOR HANGING BOOTS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION verted position to provide for runout of the liquid that may have accumulated in the bottom portion and permit circulation of drying air currents through the lower portion of the boots. It is important that the hanger structure be one that will accommodate a wide' range of sizes of boots to make it of maximum utility.

Prior art hangers are known in which either closed loops or loops of various shapes, with or without open ends, are used to hold the inserted boots in an inverted position. Many of these hangers additionally do not provide for collapsing for storage or for folding of the hanger between uses as is particularly important when closet space is limited. Of equal importance is the type of material required and the ease and cost of the manu: facture of the hanger. It has been found that in accordance with the teachings of the present invention the entire hanger can be simply constructed from a low cost wire or resilient plastic rod material.

SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION The present invention by reason of its open end, op-

inserted endwise in each of one of the U-shaped loops.

Inthis manner, while the hanger is adaptable for storing a pair of adult size boots, it may as readily be utilized to store two pair of child size boots. By the unique mode of construction in a two element arrangement of the wire loop members, one may be folded over and against the other to reduce the size of the hanger by at least one-half when it is not in use.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Theobjects'and advantages, as well. as the mode of operation of my. invention, will be better understood by reference to the following specification and to'the accompanying drawings in which like numerals are used to refer to like elements where they occur in the several drawings, and in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the hanger as it is positioned for suspending a pair of boots in an inverted position;

FIG. 2;, is a similar perspective view of the apparatus of FIG. 1 but in a folded or storage position; and

FIG. 3 is a like perspective view of a hanger having a different type intermediate hooked portion for attaching'it to a support.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Now with particular reference to the FIG. 1 drawing, the present invention is illustrated with its several parts which may be molded, bent or constructed of any suitable material such as a plastic or metal. The hanger in 12, which ends are substantially co-planar one with the other. More specifically, the element includes a pair of opposed U-shaped ends 10a and 10b. The intermediate portion of the element 10 includes an upwardly extending and looped hanger portion 14 which is adaptable to be hooked onto or engaged over any suitable hanger or hook member 16. It will be seen that the hanger portion 14 extends in a direction substantially normal to the plane in which the U-shaped ends 10a and 10b fall. The wire element 12 similarly has a pair 'of opposed U-shaped ends 12a and 12b which are also formed'co-planar one with the other and with their open ends juxtaposed. The intermediate portion 18 of the wire element 12 is formed with a pair of spaced hinge-like loops 18a and 18b which are engaged about the sides of the base of the 'intermemate portion of tive storage position. In this position, the element 12 is the element 10. It will thus be seen that the wire element 12 is rotatable through its loop portions 184 and 18b about the i termq i igf.t.t s wit;.slsr ment 10. A slightly upturned portion 180 is shaped to hold the element 12 substantially co-planar with the element 10 when it islowered for use in the manner. shown in FIG. 1. I

FIG. 2 illustrates the manner in which the right hand wire element 12 may be flipped upwardly into its inacfolded leftwardly into substantial alignment with the element 10 and the respective U-shaped ends 10a, 12a and 10b, 12b, respectively, are thus in substantially vertical alignment, one with the other, thereby reducing the space occupied by the hanger by about one-half. It is noted that the illustration of the invention in FIG. 1 shows a boot in phantom line as it would be inserted downwardly into one side of the hanger. It will be appreciated that a pair of adult size boots may be inserted in the manner illustrated, or alternately the four separate U-shaped portions 10a, 10b, 12a and 12b may be used in the preformed. state or slightly deflected to insert a small size double pair of footwear for storage.

FIG. 3 illustrates a different embodiment of the present invention and an alternate form for the hanger portion 14 used to suspend the hanger.'A different hanger portion 15 is shown to have its-upper end 7 compressed at the tip and then bent over in' a downwardly directed hook portion E6 permit sizes and shapes of footwear ranging from children to adult sizes.

What is claimed is:

1. An apparatus for supporting a pair of boots in an inverted position, comprising:

a first and a second wire element, each element having two U-shaped end portions positioned in a common plane, with the open ends of the U-shapes facing eachother and spaced from each other by an intermediate connecting portion;

the intermediate portion of said first element being formed to a hangerportion configuration extending normal to the plane of said U-shapes; and

the intermediate portion of said second element being formed to a connector portion configuration hingedly engaging the intermediate portion of said first element.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the U-shapes of each element are sized to engage around an ankle portion of an adult size, inverted boot, one U-shape underlying the toe portion of said boot and the other U-shape clamping adjacent its heel portion.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said element U- shapes are sufficiently rigid to support the heels and toes of boots therein and yet sufficiently deformable to be selectively shaped to fit different boot sizes.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said hanger portion is U-shaped with the center portion thereof remote from the first mentioned U-shapes.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said hanger portion is elongated and includes a hooked end portion.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said connector portion is formed to limit hinging movement of said second element downwardly to position the U-shapes thereof in a plane common to the plane of the first element U-shapes when same is horizontal and said hanger portion extends vertically upward therefrom.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein said connector portion is formed to limit said second element hinging movement between positions in which the plane of its U-shapes is common to the first element U-shapes plane and is adjacent to said first element hanger portion.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said elements are of metallic wire material.

9. The apparatus. of claim 8 wherein said elements have non-metallic tips affixed to extremities thereof. 

1. An apparatus for supporting a pair of boots in an inverted position, comprising: a first and a second wire element, each element having two Ushaped end portions positioned in a common plane, with the open ends of the U-shapes facing each other and spaced from each other by an intermediate connecting portion; the intermediate portion of said first element being formed to a hanger portion configuration extending normal to the plane of said U-shapes; and the intermediate portion of said second element being formed to a connector portion configuratIon hingedly engaging the intermediate portion of said first element.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the U-shapes of each element are sized to engage around an ankle portion of an adult size, inverted boot, one U-shape underlying the toe portion of said boot and the other U-shape clamping adjacent its heel portion.
 3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said element U-shapes are sufficiently rigid to support the heels and toes of boots therein and yet sufficiently deformable to be selectively shaped to fit different boot sizes.
 4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said hanger portion is U-shaped with the center portion thereof remote from the first mentioned U-shapes.
 5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said hanger portion is elongated and includes a hooked end portion.
 6. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said connector portion is formed to limit hinging movement of said second element downwardly to position the U-shapes thereof in a plane common to the plane of the first element U-shapes when same is horizontal and said hanger portion extends vertically upward therefrom.
 7. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein said connector portion is formed to limit said second element hinging movement between positions in which the plane of its U-shapes is common to the first element U-shapes plane and is adjacent to said first element hanger portion.
 8. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said elements are of metallic wire material.
 9. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein said elements have non-metallic tips affixed to extremities thereof. 